Saracens trial safety device

Saracens players involved in Saturday's Aviva Premiership victory over London Irish wore sensors designed to measure the force and direction of impacts to the head.

The gadgets were used for the first time in England after being introduced into the National Football League in the United States and are taped behind the ear.

They are designed to help determine the effects of concussion.

"We're collecting data because we want answers," Saracens chief executive Edward Griffiths said.

"We don't want to meet our players in 20 or 25 years' time and find them suffering from dementia or any similar condition and reflect that we suspected something was going on but didn't really know.

"We want to know. The findings will be reported in due course."

Data from the devices is currently downloaded after the match but new sensors are being developed which will deliver real-time data, potentially providing a more accurate assessment of whether a player should leave the field or continue playing following a collision.

Premiership Rugby's rugby director Phil Winstanley welcomed Saracens' initiative.

"Player welfare is the number one priority at Premiership Rugby, so we welcome any initiative that helps our management of such an important issue as concussion," he said.

"With the RFU and RPA, we have recently completed a ground-breaking concussion education programme with every one of our players, coaches, management and match officials.

"We will look forward to sitting down with Saracens to discuss the outcomes of the trial."